The Lamoille was stocked this week and was the last large river system to be stocked for the season.  They put in decent numbers considering the state had a shortage of fish.  Hatches consist of a few Hendricksons #12-16, March Browns #10-12, Sulphurs #14-16, Tan Caddis 314-18, Golden/Black Stones #10-12, and terrestrials like Ants and Beetles #12-20.  Water temps range throughout the 50’s and into the low 60’s when we get some warmer weather.  Good luck on the water!

     We caught a mix of wild and stocked rainbows, landing nearly 20 fish up to 16″, and hooking many more.  We got 3 wild fish to take Caddis off the top on dries, and then we found another nice pool with a couple fish rising to M.B.’s.  We got the first wild bow on the 1st cast; 14″ and took us about 100ft. downriver in no times.  The 2nd riser tossed a wobbly after seeing his buddy get hooked, and stopped rising.  We put a nymph on she took it with no hesitation. 16″. 

     While there was some evidence of damage from flooding/Irene where we were fishing, we did not fish any water that was done in by the towns or state.   I even found  couple pools/runs where the habitat has actually improved and is deeper. 

   Southern Vermont has seen quite a bit of rain since yesterday, though most of the rivers in the state are running at about average for the date.  We have a good slug of rain coming later today and a t-storm perhaps on Wednesday, so I expect the big rivers to come way up and be dirty by tomorrow.  I’m thinking the Lamoille will be the first to clear up and be fishable later in the week. 

   Water temps are in the mid 50’s to low 60’s depending on stream size, elevation, and location.  Hatches consist of Hendricksons #12-16, March Browns #10-14, Tan Caddis #14-18, Blue Quills #18, Golden/Black Stoneflies #10-12, and terrestrials are starting to show up now with the warmer temps, so keep some Ants #12-20 nearby for picky risers.  

   I’ve still got some openings left for later this month and early June, and I am available to guide on the Upper CT during the weekend on 6/15, and into the following week if need be.  Good luck on the water!

     Water temps range will range throughout the 50’s all weekend.  Hatches consist of a few Hendricksons #12-16, Blue Quills #18, Tan Caddis #14-18, Golden/Black Stones #10-14, and keep and eye out for some larger Sulphurs #14-16.  Good luck on the water!

    That said, you could not ask for better type of rain to fall to break an extended dry spell.  Slow and steady!  The result of that is many small streams are clear and fishable today.  We have on and off showers and maybe a t-shower over the next couple of days, but nothing that should bring levels back up. 

    Fishing has remained up and down.  Ok skills, right spot, right time, right weather, and things have been pretty good.  Wrong spot, wrong weather…not so good.  The F&W dept continues to stock rivers around the state, and I’d suspect they will be done in within 2 weeks.  Hatches have actually been pretty decent from what I’ve seen, and consist of Hendricksons #12-16, Blue Quills #18, Tan Caddis #14-18, Black/Golden Stones #10-12, Yellow Sallies #14-16.  Water temps range throughout the 50’s.  Good luck on the water!

    We do have some decent rains forecast for the whole state overnight tonight and tomorrow, with about .50-1.00″ of rain expected.  In the short term, this will blow out the big rivers for a few days, but it’s worth it in the big picture as we’re still awfully dry overall and we’ll need it going into summer. 

    There are still some Hendrickons around, along with Tan Caddis #14-18, Blue Quills #18, and some Quill Gordons #14 on some select rivers that meet their stringent requirements!  Likely to be a few larger Sulphurs #14-16,  in far southern VT if they haven’t already started.  Water temps range throughout the 50’s.  Look for smaller waters to clear the quickest, and good luck on the water!

    The Winooski petting zoo in Waterbury got some big brownies this week: 350 18.5″ fish.  Those are big pellet heads!  Fishing reports from reputable sources seem to echo the same thing: that things are still a bit slow.  At the end of the day, we’re still a few days before the traditional good angling timeframe kicks in.  Despite a warm March, things have their ways of evening out, and I expect things to improve as we get some warmer weather along with a bit more rain. 

    I still have some openings for later in May and early June, so drop me a line if you’d like to get out on the water. Hatches consist of Hendricksons #12-16, Blue Quills #18, Tan Caddis #14-18, Little Yellow Stones #12-14, and perhaps a few Quill Gordons #14, in select spots.  Water temps range from the upper 40’s to low 50’s depending on stream size, location, and time of day.  Good luck on the water!

    With cold rains, snow and the like, I’m a bit surprised the F&W department went ahead and stocked a good chunk of the Mad and New Haven Rivers in the last couple of days.  While a token stocking was always done around opening day on the popular lower New Haven, most fish are not dumped into either river until early May.  When freshly stocked trout get high flows and big drops in water temps they tend to migrate downstream as far as they can get in order to find warmer flows.   The forecast for next week is for much warmer temps and I expect many more rivers to be stocked.  We should also see some more active wild fish and hopefully, some decent hatches. 

     It’s going to pretty cool this weekend, and those who are familiar with my reports will know I’m never a big fan of bright sunshine and cold northwest winds.  Coupled with temps in the low 40’s by day and in the 20’s at night in trout country, fishing will be pretty marginal; Champlain tribs aside.  Water temps will be on either side of 40 depending on stream size, location and time of day. 

     Don’t expect any hatches through the weekend, but for the time of year are Hendricksons #12-16, Blue Quills #18, BWO’s #18-22,  Lil Brown Stones #14-16, and a few Tan Caddis #14-16.  Good luck on the water!

    As you’d expect after 1-1.8″ of rain, most rivers and streams are dirty and flows have come back up to normal or slightly above normal for the time of year.  The smaller streams will come clean the soonest, but with a bit more rain and cooler temps thru the week, I don’t expect the fishing to be very good.  

   Only a handful of rivers have been stocked so far, and I doubt many more will be stocked this week with the conditions forecast.  Hatches should be sparse as well, but consist of Lil Brown Stones #14-16, Blue Quills #18, Hendricksons  #12-16, and a few Tan Caddis #14-16.  Water temps range throughout the 40’s.  My reports will pick up as the soon as the fishing improves, good luck on the water!

     Nymph and streamer fishing should produce a few fish as the weather warms during the afternoons.  After 2 years of heat, and then Irene, I’m a bit concerned about our remaining wild rainbow stocks having access to spawning streams with such low flows right now.  We’re going to need to see some good spawning success this spring in order for us to boost the trout population for the next few years.  Please avoid fishing to any rainbows that are in smaller tribs these next couple of weeks, as they really need to do their thing without someone lifting them off their redds.  And yes, that includes C&R flyanglers! 

     With all the good looking water around right now, bookings for May and early June are starting to fill up, so if you’re looking to get out on the water at one of better times of year to fish, or, after Irene, would like to learn some new water to fish, drop me a line.   As flows are so low already, we’ll need some rain if float trips on either the Winooski or Lamoille are going to be on the menu.   And if things continue to be warm and dry remember that the Upper CT is a cold tailwater, and it will have good flows for either wading or floating throughout the season.   I’ll be guiding up there from May thru September as well. 

     As for hatches, the warm March certianly triggered some early bug activity, but in general we’re still looking lil Brown Stones #14-16, and some Hendricksons #12-16, Blue Quills #18, BWO’s #18-22, and perhaps a few Tan Caddis once we get some warmer days this coming week.  Good luck on the water!

     This petition and the bill are the brainstorm of a heavy equipment operator who was disgusted by the way our rivers were treated after Irene came thru last August.  We need to let our local politicos know that this matters to us, and the old attitude of “cowboys on diggers” cannot continue.  Too many trout streams were destroyed by man during Irene, and many of these “alterations” will actually cause more flooding in the future in many towns. 

    This bill requires excavators to get some basic training in river science.  It’s not rocket science, and would go a long way.  Not the job of legislators you say?  Well, in the current VT legislature there is a bill requiring “certification” of Roofers!!  Yup, roofers.  So, if the politicos think a roofer needs to be educated and certified, shouldn’t the guy who’s in the stream with heavy equipment upstream of your house or business be certified in the same way?

   No brainer  really, but we are dealing with politicians, and the Lt. Gov. owns an excavating business so it will be an uphill battle.  And thats why we need you to sign the petition!!!  If you’re from out of state, and fish in Vermont, get on board as well.

    That’s all for now; I’ll be doing more reports in April as we get closer to May and good trout fishing conditions.  Thanks and good luck on any lake runs!